State of the Lakes

The State of the Bras d’Or Lakes Marine Environmental Water Quality Background Report (MEQ), looks into the current state of the Lake’s water quality. The report examines the Bras d’Or Lakes and its sub-watersheds. Marine environmental quality is measured in many different ways. For the purposes of the MEQ report, it is examined in three ways:
1. Bacteriological water quality
2. Chemical, sediment, and biological quality
3. Sedimentation.

The report looks at these factors separately going beyond a simple description to determine current water quality, using the European Environmental Agency’s Integrated Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response approach. Because it highlights cause-effect relationships, this method helps people understand that issues are interconnected, easy to understand, and easily adjusted to include more details while indicating how problems can be alleviated.

The MEQ report has found that the Bras d’Or Lakes are in good condition relative to the numerous types of contamination that may harm it. The report will be released by March 31, 2007 and will be available at the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources office. A condensed version showing highlights will will also be available for the public. Check our website for details.